Crane



March 29, 1927. 1,622,574

F. W. DEADY CRANE Filed April 21. 1926 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. DEADY, F oLEvELannozrro, lasers-Non, BY MESNE A onCLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUGUSTUS J. GATES,

SIGNMENTS, TO

CRANE.

Application filed April 21,

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling relatively heavybodies or articles, more particularly to a crane of thetraveling type. a

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this type that isrelatively simple to i'nanufacture and assemble and consists ofrelatively few parts, whereby its cost is relatively low.

Another object of the invention is to construct apparatus of this typefrom struc tural elements and materials of standard form, wherebymanufacture is facilitated and materially cheapened and relativelysimple manufacturing and assembly equipment is required.

Another object of the invention is to construct an improved travelingcrane which may be readily assembled in a building structure.

A further object is to provide a relatively simple traveling cranecapable of lifting and carrying relatively heavy loads in a readymanner. 1

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the ac companying drawings, wherein V Figure 1 is aperspective View of a building having a crane embodying the inventioninstalled therein.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the crane, with parts brokenaway.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 2, enlarged.

Fig. 41 is a section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

hi and 6 are detail views.

1, 1, indicate tracks disposed in parallel spaced relation and supportedby suitable brackets 2 depending from the ceiling or girders A of astructure A. The tracks may extend over any desired area and preferablycomprise relatively large pipes or tubing connected at their ends'in anysuitable manner to form continuous tracks throughout the desired area inthe building or structure A. The brackets 2 preferably comprise sectionsof bar material each having a foot 2 at one end and a laterallyextending arm 2 at its other end, the foot 2 being.

secured to the adjacent girder A by screws are above the track and thearm 2*" being arahged to lie under and Support the adjacentz'nen'iberinterior wail with an 1926. Serial No. 103,463.

track 1; the portion 2 of the bracket between the foot 2 and arm 2 beinginclined to the vertical so that the weight of the tracks is carriedbelow and substantially in the plane of the foot 2. This arrangementalso permits the brackets to clear the opposite ends of the carriage(indicated as an entirety at 8) which is movable along the tracks 1, 1..By extending the arms 2 hori- Zontally, it permits the tracks 1 to beadjusted relative to each other to insure proper running engagementtherewith of the rolls (to be later referred to) on which the carriageruns The carriage 3 comprises a pair of concentrically arranged,relatively rotatablemembers 4, 5, the inner member (4) consisting of ashaft having secured at its opposite ends grooved r lls or wheels 6, 6,engaging the tracks 1 and guided thereby and the outer member (5consisting of a section of tubing or pipe (preferably a single sectionthereof) extending throughout the length of. the shaft 4 between the.inner flanges or end walls of the rolls 6 and-serving as a track orguide for a roller 7, whereby the latter may be moved transverselyrelative to the direction of movement of the carriage 3, to any desiredposition between the tracks 1. 8 indicates suitable anti-frictionbearings disposed between the relatively rotatable members 4-, 5,preferably at the opposite ends of the latter. The mounting for eachbearing 8 is provided by reducing the outer portions of the shaft 4 toform a shoulder 4.-agai11st which the inner race of the hearing andfitting into each end of the 5 a flanged collar 9 formed on its annulargroove to receive the outer race of the bearing. The rolls or wheels 6are mounted on the reduced portions of the shaft 4 and preferablyscoured thereto in any desired manner, where by both rolls may turntogether to avoid danger of one roll creepingv on its track 1 relativeto the other roll. By interposing a washer 10 between the inner end ofeach roll 6 and the inner race of the adjacent bearing 8 and'tighteningthe nut 11, threaded on the free end of the shaft 4, the roll 6 andinner bearing race will be clamped between the nut 11 (or a washer 12interposed between the nut 11 and roll 6) and the shoulder 4, so thatthe inner race is fixed in position and the roll 6 is secured to theShaft 4.

13 indicates a U-element having its legs 13 disposed at opposite sidesof and in spaced relation to the track 5 and connected at their freeends to the opposite ends of a shaft 14 on which the roller 7 isloosely.

mounted, anti-friction bearings 15 being preferably provided between theshaft and roller. The free ends of the shafts 14 are preferably reducedto form shoulders 14: and the reduced ends extend through openings 13 inthe legs 13 and are threaded to take clamping nuts 16-, whereby the legs13 are secured to or against the shoulders 14$. The bottom of theU-elem'ent 13 supports a hook 17 or other connecting device, preferablydisposed in a plane cutting the axis of the track 5 (see Fig. 4).

18 indicates a hoist of suitable construction connected in a well knownmanner to the hook 17, as shown in Fig. 1.

The hoist 18 may be of any desired construction, whereby loads B of anysize or weight may be readily lifted.

The piping 1 and 5 forming the tracks for the carriage 3 and hoistsupporting element 13 respectively, and the shaft 4t may be formed fromstandard stock material, and the brackets 2 and U-element 13 may also bereadily shaped from standardized bar sections. The ends of the tracks 1may be supported by brackets or hangers 19 the lower ends of whichproject through aligned open ings in the piping and carry on theirthreaded free ends nuts 20 on which the piping rests, (see Figs. 5 and6) the nuts thereby forming adjustable supports for the tracks 1.

The rolls or wheels 6 are preferably of sectional character, eachcomprising end members or flanges 6 which roll on and engage the piping1 along lines at opposite sides of a vertical plane cutting the axis ofthe piping, and a spacer 6 between them, the latter permitting the endmembers to be adjusted relative to each other, whereby they may beadapted to piping of different diameters, when desired adjustment beingeffected by the removal of one spacer and the substitution of another ofthe desired thickness.

It will be seen that each roller or wheel 6, when formed as justdescribed, has line engagement with its supporting cylindrical track onopposite sides of a vertical plane cutting the track centrally andlongitudinally. This is distinctly advantageous, as it has been foundthat the wheels are much less likely to climb up and run off ther'ailsas when a force to move the carriage 3 is applied near one end ofsuch carriage and hence tends to turn it on its supporting railsthanwhen the wheels are of concave shape or curved to approximately fit thetracks 1.

The roller 7 may be of sectional construction, but preferably is formedof a single member shaped or cut-away intermediate its ends to form endflanges 7, 7, which engage the track or guide along lines at oppositesides of a vertical plane cutting the axis of the guide, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4, so that the pipe or member 5 serves as a suitable track"for the roller 7.

In the operation of the hoist 18, the tracks permit the travel of thecarriage 3 in a direction longitudinally thereof whereas the track 5permits travel of the supporting member 13 transversely, so that loadsat any position within the area below the tracks 1, may be engaged andlifted and transported to any other position within said area andlowered.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my construction isrelatively simple and consists of few parts, most of which may be formedfrom standard sections of materials, whereby manufacture and assembly isreadily effected and relatively simple equipment is required therefor.It will also be noted that the carriage 8 comprises a single devicesupported at its opposite ends on the spaced tracks 1 and that itconsists of inner and outer relatively movable members, the former beingcircular in shape so that it may be free to rotate within the outermember without affecting its function in forming and serving as a trackfor the roller 7 to permit travel of the supporting member 13 endwisethereof. In the preferred form of construction the inner member f androlls 6 turn as a unit relative to the outer men1- her or track 5, thelatter being under normal conditions held stationary due to frictionbetween it and the roller 7, especially when the latter is carrying aload, as shown in Fig. 1. However, if desired, the rolls 6 may be looseon the shaft f.

The brackets or hangers 19 serve to rigidly support the tracks 1, 1, sothat they are held against longitudinal movement and lateral movement,one relative to the other, and in arallel relationship, so that thecarriage 2 will at all times move in a direction longitudinally of thetracks and be maintained at right angles thereto. If desired, additionaldevices may be employed to support the tracks 1 in parallel relation andto prevent relative movemcnt between them.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purelyillustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In an overhead crane, a carriage serving as a support for a load,consisting of a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatablemembers and rolls at opposite ends of the members that travel on thestationary tracks for the carriage.

2. In an overhead crane, a carriage consisting of a shaft, rollssupported at the opposite ends of the shaft adapted to travel on thestationary tracks for'the carriage and a tubular member serving as asupport for a load, concentrically supported by the shaft and free torotate relative thereto.

3. In an overhead crane a carriage consisting of a shaft With reducedends, rolls adapted to travel on the stationary tracks of the carriagesupported on the shaft, a

" concentrically arranged tubular member surserving as a track roundingthe shaft and for a transversely movable hoist, an-tifric tion bearingsbetween the shaft and tubular member permitting them to have relativerotative movements.

4. A carriage for an overhead crane such as described in claim 1 inwhich the rolls for engaging the stationary tracks consist of separateflanges and spacers between the flanges whereby the rolls may beadjusted as to Width to suit the tracks.

5. As an article of manufacture, a carriage for an overhead cranecomprising a shaft, rolls at the ends of the shaft adapted to engagewith the stationary tracks for the carriage a concentrically arrangedmember surrounding the shaft and spaced therefrom to form a relativelylarge cylindrical track, the shaft and the cylindrical member beingrelatively rotatable, and a supporting trolley hoist sup orted by thecarriage consisting of a U-s aped hanger that straddles the cylindricalmember of the carriage and a roll located between the upper ends of theU-shaped hanger adapted to engage with and travel upon the saidcylindrical member.

6. A carriage for a crane such as described in claim 2 in which therolls are supported upon and at the ends of the shaft, the shaft havingbearings near its opposite ends in the referred to tubular member.

7. In an overhead crane, a carriage consisting of a pair ofconcentrically arranged, relativelyrotatable members, and wheels at theopposite ends of the carriage constructed with end members spaced apartand arranged each to have line engagement with a cylindrical track onwhich the carriage supported for travel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FREDERICK W. DEADY.

